Mike Gazzola

Often when we write reviews we would denote a score for specific qualities of the game at hand (graphics, gameplay, sound design, etc) yet with this game, grading it as such really doesn’t make any sense. Inscryption is art disguised as a game and it’s truly a masterpiece. I’ve been gaming for 30 years and I’ve never played a game like this. To avoid spoilers and attempt to explain this game seems akin to calling the Mona Lisa “just a portrait” or a Banksy as “mindless graffiti” yet I will try my hand at it. It’s a card game on the most surface level in the TCG vein that over time tries to replicate the best parts of the prevalent TCGs of our time (pokemon, magic, yu gi oh) mixed with a board game style movement that has choices similar to roguelikes Slay the Spire or Curse of the Dead Gods. The art is beautiful. Very early in the game some cards start talking to you and after that the game takes you for a ride that is thrilling right up until the conclusion. Inscription is split into 3 parts. IMO the second part is the “weakest” as the art direction takes a more subdued approach that just didn’t really click for me in the moment but in the grand scheme of things (post conclusion) is entirely necessary. Inscription is a game for adults. It mixes pixel art, FMV and full 3D environments seamlessly. The story is immaculate and well contained (also not if you don’t want it to be), the acting in the FMV sequences is perfect and believable, and the graphics for the 3D worlds have a very specific charm that will grow on you if you don’t appreciate it right away. To explain anymore would be to give too much away but if you’re interested at all, play this game. At around 10-12 hours for the base game (with the first act taking the lions share) it’s a no brainer. Infinitely replayable, on gamepass or around 20$, Inscryption can not be beat. Play this game.

Graphics : 7 Gameplay : 8 Story : 7 Bugs : Lots! Fenyx : A Soulsborne This is a souls like that forces you to parry. Enemies have 2 types of attacks, one that you can parry away and one that you can shoot away. When you get a handle on this system the game feels better than most souls games. The story is great and had me invested. Like a cheesy war movie in the best way but in a sci fi setting where the lead, Nor, is chasing a set of gods that she unleashes at the beginning. The game takes place over 3 settings/maps that have you rescuing villages by defeating an elite monster/mob and performing side quests for the people of the villages (hamlets in the game) that you save. The game allows you to circumvent long walks back to your “souls” by finding shortcuts throughout which work as flight points you can fly through. Movement in this game is one of its best qualities, allowing you to double jump and double dash whenever you like. Nor is able to avoid just about anything in the game and it’s the weight of the action which truly makes it formidable. The movement in this game is the best in a souls game. The bugs in this game suck. The game crashes regularly (every hour or more). The final boss is bugged and crashes almost every time you beat the first phase (don’t go so fast at the end!). Thankfully he save system is fairly generous. This game doesn’t feature a leveling system where your characters attributes get better, instead it opts for a system of gaining abilities to make your way easier. This system led to a feeling of getting better at the game rather than over leveling. The weapons and armor can be levelled up as well giving additional damage bonuses and armor bonuses One of the best souls games I’ve played. The bugs and crashes really stick out to me. Art style is great and fun, reminded me of a dark souls version of Fenyx Rising Play it if you’re a fan of souls games.

This game was a really fun but plagued by strange decisions and a lack of content most suitable for new or young gamers! Ravenlok is STUNNING! probably the most beautiful game I've played all year. The camera is fantastic at catching the beauty and is regularly showing off the setting and leaving the player in awe of the scenery around it. With that said, the camera is probably the most frustrating aspect of this game. The camera is mostly fixed with the ability to pan slightly left and right in a 3d terrain. You are unable to look around fully, constantly having to look forward and physically move the character backwards to see the backside of fighting arenas. All too often I would lose line of sight on a boss because it would run behind me and leave me completely blind to what was happening mere feet behind me leading to occasionally frustrating, cheap feeling boss encounters. The bosses in Ravenlok (aside from the camera) are well designed and interesting. They are easy (only take one or two tries maximum) but, for the most part, quite enjoyable to play. The combat moves at a blistering pace, equipped early on with sword and shield, Ravenlok moves swiftly, eviscerating her foes with a flurry of sword strikes at a speed that would make sonic blush. Its that speed that makes the combat in Ravenlok frivolous and simple. Most enemies are stun locked by the speed of your strikes and even the damage spongiest enemies are more of a time issue than a skill one. The story is whimsical and charming. Very Alice in Wonderland which its clearly going for. You are a young girl who has just moved away to the countryside with her mom and dad. The intro sees you helping your parents on errands and dressing up your dog. It works to show the basics before tossing you into the rest of the story. The end is too abrupt. My daughter was beside herself with never seeing waffles again. Closure would have been nice, what happened while she was gone? Ravenlok is a beautiful game while it lasts and never overstays its welcome. The characters are bright and full of whimsy, the setting always leaves you wanting to explore the next area however with little to do after the first few hours except the main quest line there is little to explore regardless of how much you want to. You should play this game but I can't rate it more than a 6.5/10

So I nearly died in 2021, and would have left my 2 daughters behind. I watched this with my daughters and it was a mistake sort of. Never have I ever been moved by a movie the way this one moved me. The acting is great, I loved Jason Momoa in this as well as Chris o’Dowd, the story is fun too albeit (especially for me) rather depressing. If your kids are into this style of movie, real people with action and a little action, then you should watch it with them. Bring the tissues, I had to hide my face.